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3 Mumbai Indians (MI) Players Who Would Be Perfect Fit In CSK For IPL 2026
Follow UsCSK wouldn’t want to miss out on an opportunity to surpass MI’s five IPL titles
Last year, at the IPL 2025 mega auction, Mumbai Indians went hard for two former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) stars in Mitchell Santner and Deepak Chahar. CSK too did the same when they picked up the up-and-coming Haryana all-rounder Anshul Kamboj.
So, it has now become a common theme between the two sides, and the tradition might continue, with the ongoing trade window.
Who are the three MI players that CSK can pick in their squad?
Tilak Varma
CSK would be one of the first teams if a trade opportunity arises for Tilak Varma. The five-time IPL champions were one of the teams to fight it out when Tilak’s name first came up at the IPL auction, where MI eventually won the bid.
The left-hander could fit seamlessly into CSK’s setup, at No.3, and become the franchise’s new ‘Chinna Thala’. In more ways than one, Tilak is a perfect next-gen replacement for Raina, as he can bowl some handy off-spin as well.
Across 54 matches, Tilak has a handy record, averaging 37.47 in IPL, striking at 144.41.
Naman Dhir
25 and already a proven commodity at the IPL level, CSK can’t ask for a better finisher than Naman Dhir. The all-rounder had a solid impact for MI lower down the order, with 252 runs in the 2025 season, striking at 182.60.
Last year, the Men in Yellow struggled greatly in that same aspect, and that’s where Dhir could walk into the setup. The right-hander had the second-most runs at death (16-20 overs) in IPL 2025, smashing 190 runs at a strike rate of 195.9.
Ashwani Kumar
Another aspect where CSK struggled was at the death with the ball.
While Matheesha Pathirana certainly is a key asset for CSK in the future, having someone who could potentially complement him is essential. Last season, that’s where Ashwani Kumar was effective, bowling the tough overs.
The left-arm pacer picked up 11 wickets, at an average of 21.1, but more importantly had a strike rate of 11.2, with best figures of 4/24. He can certainly get that bowling unit to a greater ceiling.